I praise you because you made me in an amazing and wonderful way.
Psalm 139:14
Antonio Stradivari was a seventeenth-century violin maker whose name in its Latin form, Stradivarius, has become synonymous with excellence. He once said that to make a violin less than his best would be to rob God, who could not make Antonio Stradivari’s violins without Antonio.
He was right. God could not make Stradivarius violins without Antonio Stradivari. Certain gifts were given to that craftsman that no other violin maker possessed.
In the same vein, there are certain things you can do that no one else can. Perhaps it is parenting, or constructing houses, or encouraging the discouraged. There are things that only you can do, and you are alive to do them. In the great orchestra we call life, you have an instrument and a song, and you owe it to God to play them both sublimely.
The Applause of Heaven
[1]
Today's Scripture in Context
PRAISE REPORT & PRAYER REQUEST: The praise … we will be departing for Kids Across America Kamp around 3:00 a.m. tomorrow (Friday 6/1) morning. The prayer … there are some last minute wrinkles we are having to work through. God’s will be done as we handle these ‘opportunities’. The praise … around thirty-six (36) kids will have the experience of a lifetime at KAA. The prayer … Jesus Christ be glorified in this trip. Please pray for safe travel, good health, no injuries, protected home fronts and most of all, deepened relationships with Jesus Christ for all who make this trip.
NOTE: We return on 6/8. This will be the last Gospel Pearl until then.
[1]Lucado, Max; Gibbs, Terri A.: Grace for the Moment: Inspirational Thoughts for Each Day of the Year. Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman, 2000, S. 172
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
BEYOND OUR FAULTS
He felt sorry for them and healed those who were sick.
Matthew 14:14
Matthew writes that Jesus “healed their sick.” Not some of their sick. Not the righteous among the sick. Not the deserving among the sick. But “the sick.”
Surely, among the many thousands, there were a few people unworthy of good health. The same divinity that gave Jesus the power to heal also gave him the power to perceive.… I wonder if Jesus was tempted to say to the bigot, “Get out of here, buddy, and take your arrogance with you.”
And he could see not only their past, he could see their future.
Undoubtedly, there were those in the multitude who would use their newfound health to hurt others. Jesus released tongues that would someday curse. He gave sight to eyes that would lust. He healed hands that would kill.…
Each time Jesus healed, he had to overlook the future and the past.
Something, by the way, that he still does.
In the Eye of the Storm
[1]
Today's Scripture in Context
[1]Lucado, Max; Gibbs, Terri A.: Grace for the Moment: Inspirational Thoughts for Each Day of the Year. Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman, 2000, S. 171
Matthew 14:14
Matthew writes that Jesus “healed their sick.” Not some of their sick. Not the righteous among the sick. Not the deserving among the sick. But “the sick.”
Surely, among the many thousands, there were a few people unworthy of good health. The same divinity that gave Jesus the power to heal also gave him the power to perceive.… I wonder if Jesus was tempted to say to the bigot, “Get out of here, buddy, and take your arrogance with you.”
And he could see not only their past, he could see their future.
Undoubtedly, there were those in the multitude who would use their newfound health to hurt others. Jesus released tongues that would someday curse. He gave sight to eyes that would lust. He healed hands that would kill.…
Each time Jesus healed, he had to overlook the future and the past.
Something, by the way, that he still does.
In the Eye of the Storm
[1]
Today's Scripture in Context
[1]Lucado, Max; Gibbs, Terri A.: Grace for the Moment: Inspirational Thoughts for Each Day of the Year. Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman, 2000, S. 171
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
LOVE HATES EVIL
Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
Daniel 12:2 rsv
Does hell serve a purpose? … Remove it from the Bible and, at the same time, remove any notion of a just God and a trustworthy Scripture.…
If there is no hell, God is not just. If there is no punishment of sin, heaven is apathetic toward the rapists and pillagers and mass murderers of society. If there is no hell, God is blind toward the victims and has turned his back on those who pray for relief. If there is no wrath toward evil, then God is not love, for love hates that which is evil.
To say there is no hell is also to say God is a liar and his Scripture untrue. The Bible repeatedly and stoutly affirms the dualistic outcome of history. Some will be saved. Some will be lost.
When Christ Comes
[1]
Today's Scripture in Context
[1]Lucado, Max; Gibbs, Terri A.: Grace for the Moment: Inspirational Thoughts for Each Day of the Year. Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman, 2000, S. 170
Daniel 12:2 rsv
Does hell serve a purpose? … Remove it from the Bible and, at the same time, remove any notion of a just God and a trustworthy Scripture.…
If there is no hell, God is not just. If there is no punishment of sin, heaven is apathetic toward the rapists and pillagers and mass murderers of society. If there is no hell, God is blind toward the victims and has turned his back on those who pray for relief. If there is no wrath toward evil, then God is not love, for love hates that which is evil.
To say there is no hell is also to say God is a liar and his Scripture untrue. The Bible repeatedly and stoutly affirms the dualistic outcome of history. Some will be saved. Some will be lost.
When Christ Comes
[1]
Today's Scripture in Context
[1]Lucado, Max; Gibbs, Terri A.: Grace for the Moment: Inspirational Thoughts for Each Day of the Year. Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman, 2000, S. 170
Monday, May 28, 2007
A WORK IN PROGRESS
Jesus will keep you strong until the end so that there will be no wrong in you on the day our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.
1 Corinthians 1:8
God is not finished with you yet. Oh, you may think he is. You may think you’ve peaked. You may think he’s got someone else to do the job.
If so, think again.
“God began doing a good work in you, and I am sure he will continue it until it is finished when Jesus Christ comes again” (Philippians 1:6).
Did you see what God is doing? A good work in you.
Did you see when he will be finished? When Jesus comes again.
May I spell out the message? God ain’t finished with you yet.
When God Whispers Your Name
[1]
Today's Scripture in Context
[1]Lucado, Max; Gibbs, Terri A.: Grace for the Moment: Inspirational Thoughts for Each Day of the Year. Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman, 2000, S. 169
1 Corinthians 1:8
God is not finished with you yet. Oh, you may think he is. You may think you’ve peaked. You may think he’s got someone else to do the job.
If so, think again.
“God began doing a good work in you, and I am sure he will continue it until it is finished when Jesus Christ comes again” (Philippians 1:6).
Did you see what God is doing? A good work in you.
Did you see when he will be finished? When Jesus comes again.
May I spell out the message? God ain’t finished with you yet.
When God Whispers Your Name
[1]
Today's Scripture in Context
[1]Lucado, Max; Gibbs, Terri A.: Grace for the Moment: Inspirational Thoughts for Each Day of the Year. Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman, 2000, S. 169
Friday, May 25, 2007
FINDING COURAGE IN GRACE
I was given mercy so that in me, the worst of all sinners, Christ Jesus could show that he has patience without limit.
1 Timothy 1:16
During the early days of the Civil War a Union soldier was arrested on charges of desertion. Unable to prove his innocence, he was condemned and sentenced to die a deserter’s death. His appeal found its way to the desk of Abraham Lincoln. The president felt mercy for the soldier and signed a pardon. The soldier returned to service, fought the entirety of the war, and was killed in the last battle. Found within his breast pocket was the signed letter of the president.
Close to the heart of the soldier were his leader’s words of pardon. He found courage in grace. I wonder how many thousands more have found courage in the emblazoned cross of their heavenly king.
In the Grip of Grace
[1]
Today's Scripture in Context
[1]Lucado, Max; Gibbs, Terri A.: Grace for the Moment: Inspirational Thoughts for Each Day of the Year. Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman, 2000, S. 166
1 Timothy 1:16
During the early days of the Civil War a Union soldier was arrested on charges of desertion. Unable to prove his innocence, he was condemned and sentenced to die a deserter’s death. His appeal found its way to the desk of Abraham Lincoln. The president felt mercy for the soldier and signed a pardon. The soldier returned to service, fought the entirety of the war, and was killed in the last battle. Found within his breast pocket was the signed letter of the president.
Close to the heart of the soldier were his leader’s words of pardon. He found courage in grace. I wonder how many thousands more have found courage in the emblazoned cross of their heavenly king.
In the Grip of Grace
[1]
Today's Scripture in Context
[1]Lucado, Max; Gibbs, Terri A.: Grace for the Moment: Inspirational Thoughts for Each Day of the Year. Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman, 2000, S. 166
Thursday, May 24, 2007
SORROW FOR SIN
If we confess our sins, he will forgive our sins, because we can trust God to do what is right.
1 John 1:9
“If we confess our sins …” The biggest word in Scriptures just might be that two letter one, if. For confessing sins—admitting failure—is exactly what prisoners of pride refuse to do.
“Me a sinner? Oh sure, I get rowdy every so often, but I’m a pretty good ol’ boy.”
“Listen, I’m just as good as the next guy. I pay my taxes.…”
Justification. Rationalization. Comparison.… They sound good. They sound familiar. They even sound American. But in the kingdom, they sound hollow.…
When you get to the point of sorrow for your sins, when you admit that you have no other option, … then cast all your cares on him for he is waiting.
The Applause of Heaven
[1]
Today's Scripture in Context
[1]Lucado, Max; Gibbs, Terri A.: Grace for the Moment: Inspirational Thoughts for Each Day of the Year. Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman, 2000, S. 165
1 John 1:9
“If we confess our sins …” The biggest word in Scriptures just might be that two letter one, if. For confessing sins—admitting failure—is exactly what prisoners of pride refuse to do.
“Me a sinner? Oh sure, I get rowdy every so often, but I’m a pretty good ol’ boy.”
“Listen, I’m just as good as the next guy. I pay my taxes.…”
Justification. Rationalization. Comparison.… They sound good. They sound familiar. They even sound American. But in the kingdom, they sound hollow.…
When you get to the point of sorrow for your sins, when you admit that you have no other option, … then cast all your cares on him for he is waiting.
The Applause of Heaven
[1]
Today's Scripture in Context
[1]Lucado, Max; Gibbs, Terri A.: Grace for the Moment: Inspirational Thoughts for Each Day of the Year. Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman, 2000, S. 165
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
KEEP UNITY
May the Lord lead your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s patience.
2 Thessalonians 3:5
“All people will know that you are my followers if you love each other” (John 13:35). Stop and think about this verse for a minute. Could it be that unity is the key to reaching the world for Christ?
If unity is the key to evangelism, shouldn’t it have precedence in our prayers? Should we, as Paul said, “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3)? If unity matters to God, then shouldn’t unity matter to us? If unity is a priority in heaven, then shouldn’t it be a priority on earth?
Nowhere, by the way, are we told to build unity. We are told simply to keep unity. From God’s perspective there is but “one flock and one shepherd” (John 10:16). Unity does not need to be created; it simply needs to be protected.
How do we do that? … Does that mean we compromise our convictions? No. Does that mean we abandon the truths we cherish? No. But it does mean we look long and hard at the attitudes we carry.
In the Grip of Grace
[1]
Today's Scripture in Context
[1]Lucado, Max; Gibbs, Terri A.: Grace for the Moment: Inspirational Thoughts for Each Day of the Year. Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman, 2000, S. 164
2 Thessalonians 3:5
“All people will know that you are my followers if you love each other” (John 13:35). Stop and think about this verse for a minute. Could it be that unity is the key to reaching the world for Christ?
If unity is the key to evangelism, shouldn’t it have precedence in our prayers? Should we, as Paul said, “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3)? If unity matters to God, then shouldn’t unity matter to us? If unity is a priority in heaven, then shouldn’t it be a priority on earth?
Nowhere, by the way, are we told to build unity. We are told simply to keep unity. From God’s perspective there is but “one flock and one shepherd” (John 10:16). Unity does not need to be created; it simply needs to be protected.
How do we do that? … Does that mean we compromise our convictions? No. Does that mean we abandon the truths we cherish? No. But it does mean we look long and hard at the attitudes we carry.
In the Grip of Grace
[1]
Today's Scripture in Context
[1]Lucado, Max; Gibbs, Terri A.: Grace for the Moment: Inspirational Thoughts for Each Day of the Year. Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman, 2000, S. 164
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
THE BRIEF JOURNEY OF LIFE
Our days on earth are like a shadow.
1 Chronicles 29:15 niv
He who “lives forever” has placed himself at the head of a band of pilgrims who mutter, “How long, O Lord? How long?” (Psalm 89:46).
- “How long must I endure this sickness?”
- “How long must I endure this spouse?”
- “How long must I endure this paycheck?”
Do you really want God to answer? He could, you know. He could answer in terms of the here and now with time increments we know. “Two more years on the illness.” “The rest of your life in the marriage.” “Ten more years for the bills.”
But he seldom does that. He usually opts to measure the here and now against the there and then. And when you compare this life to that life, this life ain’t long.
In the Eye of the Storm
[1]
[1]Lucado, Max; Gibbs, Terri A.: Grace for the Moment: Inspirational Thoughts for Each Day of the Year. Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman, 2000, S. 163
Monday, May 21, 2007
GOD KNOWS YOU BY NAME
I have written your name on my hand.
Isaiah 49:16
Quite a thought, isn’t it? Your name on God’s hand. Your name on God’s lips. Maybe you’ve seen your name in some special places. On an award or diploma.… But to think that your name is on God’s hand and on God’s lips … my, could it be?
Or perhaps you have never seen your name honored. And you can’t remember when you heard it spoken with kindness. If so, it may be more difficult for you to believe that God knows your name.
But he does. Written on his hand. Spoken by his mouth. Whispered by his lips. Your name.
When God Whispers Your Name
[1]
Today's Scripture in Context
[1]Lucado, Max; Gibbs, Terri A.: Grace for the Moment: Inspirational Thoughts for Each Day of the Year. Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman, 2000, S. 162
Isaiah 49:16
Quite a thought, isn’t it? Your name on God’s hand. Your name on God’s lips. Maybe you’ve seen your name in some special places. On an award or diploma.… But to think that your name is on God’s hand and on God’s lips … my, could it be?
Or perhaps you have never seen your name honored. And you can’t remember when you heard it spoken with kindness. If so, it may be more difficult for you to believe that God knows your name.
But he does. Written on his hand. Spoken by his mouth. Whispered by his lips. Your name.
When God Whispers Your Name
[1]
Today's Scripture in Context
[1]Lucado, Max; Gibbs, Terri A.: Grace for the Moment: Inspirational Thoughts for Each Day of the Year. Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman, 2000, S. 162
Friday, May 18, 2007
FOUND, CALLED AND ADOPTED
It is not the healthy people who need a doctor, but the sick.…I did not come to invite good people but to invite sinners.
Matthew 9:12–13
God didn’t look at our frazzled lives and say, “I’ll die for you when you deserve it.”
No, despite our sin, in the face of our rebellion, he chose to adopt us. And for God, there’s no going back. His grace is a come-as-you-are promise from a one-of-a-kind King. You’ve been found, called, and adopted; so trust your Father and claim this verse as your own: “God showed his love for us in this way: Christ died for us while we were still sinners” (Romans 5:8). And you never again have to wonder who your father is—you’ve been adopted by God and are therefore an “heir of God through Christ” (Galatians 4:7).
In the Grip of Grace
[1]
Today's Scripture in Context
[1]Lucado, Max; Gibbs, Terri A.: Grace for the Moment: Inspirational Thoughts for Each Day of the Year. Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman, 2000, S. 159
Matthew 9:12–13
God didn’t look at our frazzled lives and say, “I’ll die for you when you deserve it.”
No, despite our sin, in the face of our rebellion, he chose to adopt us. And for God, there’s no going back. His grace is a come-as-you-are promise from a one-of-a-kind King. You’ve been found, called, and adopted; so trust your Father and claim this verse as your own: “God showed his love for us in this way: Christ died for us while we were still sinners” (Romans 5:8). And you never again have to wonder who your father is—you’ve been adopted by God and are therefore an “heir of God through Christ” (Galatians 4:7).
In the Grip of Grace
[1]
Today's Scripture in Context
[1]Lucado, Max; Gibbs, Terri A.: Grace for the Moment: Inspirational Thoughts for Each Day of the Year. Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman, 2000, S. 159
Thursday, May 17, 2007
NO NONSACRED MOMENTS
We are God’s workers, working together.
1 Corinthians 3:9
It’s a wonderful day indeed when we stop working for God and begin working with God.…
For years I viewed God as a compassionate CEO and my role as a loyal sales representative. He had his office, and I had my territory. I could contact him as much as I wanted. He was always a phone or fax away. He encouraged me, rallied behind me, and supported me, but he didn’t go with me. At least I didn’t think he did. Then I read 2nd Corinthians 6:1: We are “God’s fellow workers” (niv).
Fellow workers? Co-laborers? God and I work together? Imagine the paradigm shift this truth creates. Rather than report to God, we work with God. Rather than check in with him and then leave, we check in with him and then follow. We are always in the presence of God.… There is never a nonsacred moment!
Just Like Jesus
[1]
Today's Scripture in Context
[1]Lucado, Max; Gibbs, Terri A.: Grace for the Moment: Inspirational Thoughts for Each Day of the Year. Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman, 2000, S. 158
1 Corinthians 3:9
It’s a wonderful day indeed when we stop working for God and begin working with God.…
For years I viewed God as a compassionate CEO and my role as a loyal sales representative. He had his office, and I had my territory. I could contact him as much as I wanted. He was always a phone or fax away. He encouraged me, rallied behind me, and supported me, but he didn’t go with me. At least I didn’t think he did. Then I read 2nd Corinthians 6:1: We are “God’s fellow workers” (niv).
Fellow workers? Co-laborers? God and I work together? Imagine the paradigm shift this truth creates. Rather than report to God, we work with God. Rather than check in with him and then leave, we check in with him and then follow. We are always in the presence of God.… There is never a nonsacred moment!
Just Like Jesus
[1]
Today's Scripture in Context
[1]Lucado, Max; Gibbs, Terri A.: Grace for the Moment: Inspirational Thoughts for Each Day of the Year. Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman, 2000, S. 158
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
THIS ISN’T HOME
I have chosen you out of the world, so you don’t belong to it.
John 15:19
All of us know what it is like to be in a house that is not our own. Perhaps you’ve spent time in a dorm room or army barrack. Maybe you’ve slept in your share of hotels or bunked in a few hostels. They have beds. They have tables. They may have food and they may be warm, but they are a far cry from being “your father’s house.”
Your father’s house is where your father is.…
We don’t always feel welcome here on earth. We wonder if there is a place here for us. People can make us feel unwanted. Tragedy leaves us feeling like intruders. Strangers. Interlopers in a land not ours. We don’t always feel welcome here.
We shouldn’t. This isn’t our home. To feel unwelcome is no tragedy. Indeed it is healthy. We are not home here. This language we speak, it’s not ours. This body we wear, it isn’t us. And the world we live in, this isn’t home.
A Gentle Thunder
[1]
Today's Scripture in Context
[1]Lucado, Max; Gibbs, Terri A.: Grace for the Moment: Inspirational Thoughts for Each Day of the Year. Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman, 2000, S. 157
John 15:19
All of us know what it is like to be in a house that is not our own. Perhaps you’ve spent time in a dorm room or army barrack. Maybe you’ve slept in your share of hotels or bunked in a few hostels. They have beds. They have tables. They may have food and they may be warm, but they are a far cry from being “your father’s house.”
Your father’s house is where your father is.…
We don’t always feel welcome here on earth. We wonder if there is a place here for us. People can make us feel unwanted. Tragedy leaves us feeling like intruders. Strangers. Interlopers in a land not ours. We don’t always feel welcome here.
We shouldn’t. This isn’t our home. To feel unwelcome is no tragedy. Indeed it is healthy. We are not home here. This language we speak, it’s not ours. This body we wear, it isn’t us. And the world we live in, this isn’t home.
A Gentle Thunder
[1]
Today's Scripture in Context
[1]Lucado, Max; Gibbs, Terri A.: Grace for the Moment: Inspirational Thoughts for Each Day of the Year. Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman, 2000, S. 157
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
THE CORRECT SOLUTION
The just shall live by faith.
Romans 1:16
At the moment I don’t feel too smart. I just got off the wrong plane that took me to the wrong city and left me at the wrong airport. I went east instead of west and ended up in Houston instead of Denver.
It didn’t look like the wrong plane, but it was. I walked through the wrong gate, dozed off on the wrong flight, and ended up in the wrong place.
Paul says we’ve all done the same thing. Not with airplanes and airports, but with our lives and God. He tells the Roman readers,
- There is none righteous, no, not one (Romans 3:10).
- All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).
We are all on the wrong plane, he says. All of us. Gentile and Jew. Every person has taken the wrong turn. And we need help.… The wrong solutions are pleasure and pride (Romans 1 and 2); the correct solution is Christ Jesus (Romans 3:21-26)
The Inspirational Study Bible
[1]
[1]Lucado, Max; Gibbs, Terri A.: Grace for the Moment: Inspirational Thoughts for Each Day of the Year. Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman, 2000, S. 156
Monday, May 14, 2007
GOD’S MOUNTAINS
My grace is enough for you. When you are weak, my power is made perfect in you.
2 Corinthians 12:9
There are certain mountains only God can climb.…
It’s not that you aren’t welcome to try, it’s just that you aren’t able.…
If the word Savior is in your job description, it’s because you put it there. Your role is to help the world, not save it. Mount Messiah is one mountain you weren’t made to climb.
Nor is Mount Self-Sufficient. You aren’t able to run the world, nor are you able to sustain it. Some of you think you can. You are self-made. You don’t bow your knees, you just roll up your sleeves and put in another twelve-hour day … which may be enough when it comes to making a living or building a business. But when you face your own grave or your own guilt, your power will not do the trick.
The Great House of God
[1]
Today's Scripture in Context
[1]Lucado, Max; Gibbs, Terri A.: Grace for the Moment: Inspirational Thoughts for Each Day of the Year. Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman, 2000, S. 155
2 Corinthians 12:9
There are certain mountains only God can climb.…
It’s not that you aren’t welcome to try, it’s just that you aren’t able.…
If the word Savior is in your job description, it’s because you put it there. Your role is to help the world, not save it. Mount Messiah is one mountain you weren’t made to climb.
Nor is Mount Self-Sufficient. You aren’t able to run the world, nor are you able to sustain it. Some of you think you can. You are self-made. You don’t bow your knees, you just roll up your sleeves and put in another twelve-hour day … which may be enough when it comes to making a living or building a business. But when you face your own grave or your own guilt, your power will not do the trick.
The Great House of God
[1]
Today's Scripture in Context
[1]Lucado, Max; Gibbs, Terri A.: Grace for the Moment: Inspirational Thoughts for Each Day of the Year. Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman, 2000, S. 155
Friday, May 11, 2007
ITEMIZED GRACE
The Lord knows those who belong to him.
2 Timothy 2:19
Imagine the event. You are before the judgment seat of Christ. The book is opened and the reading begins—each sin, each deceit, each occasion of destruction and greed. But as soon as the infraction is read, grace is proclaimed.…
The result? God’s merciful verdict will echo through the universe. For the first time in history, we will understand the depth of his goodness. Itemized grace. Catalogued kindness. Registered forgiveness. We will stand in awe as one sin after another is proclaimed, and then pardoned.…
The devil will shrink back in defeat. The angels will step forward in awe. And we saints will stand tall in God’s grace. As we see how much he has forgiven us, we will see how much he loves us. And we will worship him.
The result will be the first genuine community of forgiven people. Only one is worthy of the applause of heaven, and he’s the one with the pierced hands and feet.
When Christ Comes
[1]
Today's Scripture in Context
[1]Lucado, Max; Gibbs, Terri A.: Grace for the Moment: Inspirational Thoughts for Each Day of the Year. Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman, 2000, S. 152
2 Timothy 2:19
Imagine the event. You are before the judgment seat of Christ. The book is opened and the reading begins—each sin, each deceit, each occasion of destruction and greed. But as soon as the infraction is read, grace is proclaimed.…
The result? God’s merciful verdict will echo through the universe. For the first time in history, we will understand the depth of his goodness. Itemized grace. Catalogued kindness. Registered forgiveness. We will stand in awe as one sin after another is proclaimed, and then pardoned.…
The devil will shrink back in defeat. The angels will step forward in awe. And we saints will stand tall in God’s grace. As we see how much he has forgiven us, we will see how much he loves us. And we will worship him.
The result will be the first genuine community of forgiven people. Only one is worthy of the applause of heaven, and he’s the one with the pierced hands and feet.
When Christ Comes
[1]
Today's Scripture in Context
[1]Lucado, Max; Gibbs, Terri A.: Grace for the Moment: Inspirational Thoughts for Each Day of the Year. Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman, 2000, S. 152
Thursday, May 10, 2007
FAITH MEETS GRACE
Let us come near to God with a sincere heart and a sure faith, because we have been made free from a guilty conscience.…
Hebrews 10:22
Faith is not born at the negotiating table where we barter our gifts in exchange for God’s goodness. Faith is not an award given to the most learned. It’s not a prize given to the most disciplined. It’s not a title bequeathed to the most religious.
Faith is a desperate dive out of the sinking boat of human effort and a prayer that God will be there to pull us out of the water. The apostle Paul wrote about this kind of faith:
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).
The supreme force in salvation is God’s grace.
In the Eye of the Storm
[1]
Today's Scripture in Context
[1]Lucado, Max; Gibbs, Terri A.: Grace for the Moment: Inspirational Thoughts for Each Day of the Year. Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman, 2000, S. 151
Hebrews 10:22
Faith is not born at the negotiating table where we barter our gifts in exchange for God’s goodness. Faith is not an award given to the most learned. It’s not a prize given to the most disciplined. It’s not a title bequeathed to the most religious.
Faith is a desperate dive out of the sinking boat of human effort and a prayer that God will be there to pull us out of the water. The apostle Paul wrote about this kind of faith:
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).
The supreme force in salvation is God’s grace.
In the Eye of the Storm
[1]
Today's Scripture in Context
[1]Lucado, Max; Gibbs, Terri A.: Grace for the Moment: Inspirational Thoughts for Each Day of the Year. Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman, 2000, S. 151
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
LISTENING TO GOD
A rule here, a rule there. A little lesson here, a little lesson there.
Isaiah 28:10
Equipped with the right tools, we can learn to listen to God. What are those tools? Here are the ones I have found helpful.
A regular time and place. Select a slot on your schedule and a corner of your world, and claim it for God. For some it may be the best to do this in the morning.… Others prefer the evening.…
A second tool you need [is] an open Bible. God speaks to us through his Word. The first step in reading the Bible is to ask God to help you understand it.… Don’t go to Scripture looking for your own idea; go searching for God’s.…
There is a third tool.… Not only do we need a regular time and an open Bible, we also need a listening heart.… If you want to be just like Jesus, let God have you. Spend time listening for him until you receive your lesson for the day—then apply it.
Just Like Jesus
[1]
Today's Scripture in Context
[1]Lucado, Max; Gibbs, Terri A.: Grace for the Moment: Inspirational Thoughts for Each Day of the Year. Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman, 2000, S. 150
Isaiah 28:10
Equipped with the right tools, we can learn to listen to God. What are those tools? Here are the ones I have found helpful.
A regular time and place. Select a slot on your schedule and a corner of your world, and claim it for God. For some it may be the best to do this in the morning.… Others prefer the evening.…
A second tool you need [is] an open Bible. God speaks to us through his Word. The first step in reading the Bible is to ask God to help you understand it.… Don’t go to Scripture looking for your own idea; go searching for God’s.…
There is a third tool.… Not only do we need a regular time and an open Bible, we also need a listening heart.… If you want to be just like Jesus, let God have you. Spend time listening for him until you receive your lesson for the day—then apply it.
Just Like Jesus
[1]
Today's Scripture in Context
[1]Lucado, Max; Gibbs, Terri A.: Grace for the Moment: Inspirational Thoughts for Each Day of the Year. Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman, 2000, S. 150
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
GET OUT OF THE JUDGMENT SEAT
You will be judged in the same way that you judge others.
Matthew 7:2
We condemn a man for stumbling this morning, but we didn’t see the blows he took yesterday. We judge a woman for the limp in her walk, but cannot see the tack in her shoe. We mock the fear in their eyes, but have no idea how many stones they have ducked or darts they have dodged.
Are they too loud? Perhaps they fear being neglected again. Are they too timid? Perhaps they fear failing again. Too slow? Perhaps they fell the last time they hurried. You don’t know. Only one who has followed yesterday’s steps can be their judge.
Not only are we ignorant about yesterday, we are ignorant about tomorrow. Dare we judge a book while chapters are yet unwritten? Should we pass a verdict on a painting while the artist still holds the brush? How can you dismiss a soul until God’s work is complete? “God began doing a good work in you, and I am sure he will continue it until it is finished when Jesus Christ comes again” (Philippians 1:6).
In the Grip of Grace
[1]
Today's Scripture in Context
[1]Lucado, Max; Gibbs, Terri A.: Grace for the Moment: Inspirational Thoughts for Each Day of the Year. Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman, 2000, S. 149
Matthew 7:2
We condemn a man for stumbling this morning, but we didn’t see the blows he took yesterday. We judge a woman for the limp in her walk, but cannot see the tack in her shoe. We mock the fear in their eyes, but have no idea how many stones they have ducked or darts they have dodged.
Are they too loud? Perhaps they fear being neglected again. Are they too timid? Perhaps they fear failing again. Too slow? Perhaps they fell the last time they hurried. You don’t know. Only one who has followed yesterday’s steps can be their judge.
Not only are we ignorant about yesterday, we are ignorant about tomorrow. Dare we judge a book while chapters are yet unwritten? Should we pass a verdict on a painting while the artist still holds the brush? How can you dismiss a soul until God’s work is complete? “God began doing a good work in you, and I am sure he will continue it until it is finished when Jesus Christ comes again” (Philippians 1:6).
In the Grip of Grace
[1]
Today's Scripture in Context
[1]Lucado, Max; Gibbs, Terri A.: Grace for the Moment: Inspirational Thoughts for Each Day of the Year. Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman, 2000, S. 149
Monday, May 07, 2007
GOD TEACHES US
He gave himself for us so he might pay the price to free us from all evil and to make us pure people who belong only to him.
Titus 2:14
Do we ever compromise tonight, knowing we’ll confess tomorrow?
It’s easy to be like the fellow visiting Las Vegas who called the preacher, wanting to know the hours of the Sunday service. The preacher was impressed. “Most people who come to Las Vegas don’t do so to go to church.”
“Oh, I’m not coming for the church. I’m coming for the gambling and parties and wild women. If I have half as much fun as I intend to, I’ll need a church come Sunday morning.”
Is that the intent of grace? Is God’s goal to promote disobedience? Hardly. “Grace … teaches us not to live against God nor to do the evil things the world wants us to do. Instead, that grace teaches us to live now in a wise and right way and in a way that shows we serve God” (Titus 2:11–12). God’s grace has released us from selfishness. Why return?
In the Grip of Grace
[1]
Today's Scripture in Context
[1]Lucado, Max; Gibbs, Terri A.: Grace for the Moment: Inspirational Thoughts for Each Day of the Year. Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman, 2000, S. 148
Titus 2:14
Do we ever compromise tonight, knowing we’ll confess tomorrow?
It’s easy to be like the fellow visiting Las Vegas who called the preacher, wanting to know the hours of the Sunday service. The preacher was impressed. “Most people who come to Las Vegas don’t do so to go to church.”
“Oh, I’m not coming for the church. I’m coming for the gambling and parties and wild women. If I have half as much fun as I intend to, I’ll need a church come Sunday morning.”
Is that the intent of grace? Is God’s goal to promote disobedience? Hardly. “Grace … teaches us not to live against God nor to do the evil things the world wants us to do. Instead, that grace teaches us to live now in a wise and right way and in a way that shows we serve God” (Titus 2:11–12). God’s grace has released us from selfishness. Why return?
In the Grip of Grace
[1]
Today's Scripture in Context
[1]Lucado, Max; Gibbs, Terri A.: Grace for the Moment: Inspirational Thoughts for Each Day of the Year. Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman, 2000, S. 148
Friday, May 04, 2007
GOD’S PASSION AND PLAN
Your word is like a lamp for my feet and a light for my path.
Psalm 119:105
The purpose of the Bible is simply to proclaim God’s plan to save His children. It asserts that man is lost and needs to be saved. And it communicates the message that Jesus is the God in the flesh sent to save his children.
Though the Bible was written over sixteen centuries by at least forty authors, it has one central theme—salvation through faith in Christ. Begun by Moses in the lonely desert of Arabia and finished by John on the lonely Isle of Patmos, it is held together by a strong thread: God’s passion and God’s plan to save His children.
What a vital truth! Understanding the purpose of the Bible is like setting the compass in the right direction. Calibrate it correctly and you’ll journey safely. But fail to set it, and who knows where you’ll end up.
“How to Study the Bible”
[1]
Today's Scripture in Context
[1]Lucado, Max; Gibbs, Terri A.: Grace for the Moment: Inspirational Thoughts for Each Day of the Year. Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman, 2000, S. 145
Psalm 119:105
The purpose of the Bible is simply to proclaim God’s plan to save His children. It asserts that man is lost and needs to be saved. And it communicates the message that Jesus is the God in the flesh sent to save his children.
Though the Bible was written over sixteen centuries by at least forty authors, it has one central theme—salvation through faith in Christ. Begun by Moses in the lonely desert of Arabia and finished by John on the lonely Isle of Patmos, it is held together by a strong thread: God’s passion and God’s plan to save His children.
What a vital truth! Understanding the purpose of the Bible is like setting the compass in the right direction. Calibrate it correctly and you’ll journey safely. But fail to set it, and who knows where you’ll end up.
“How to Study the Bible”
[1]
Today's Scripture in Context
[1]Lucado, Max; Gibbs, Terri A.: Grace for the Moment: Inspirational Thoughts for Each Day of the Year. Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman, 2000, S. 145
Thursday, May 03, 2007
SOMETIMES GOD SAYS NO
Continue praying, keeping alert, and always thanking God.
Colossians 4:2
Can you imagine the outcome if a parent honored each request of each child during a trip? We’d inch our bloated bellies from one ice-cream store to the next.…
Can you imagine the chaos if God indulged each of ours? …
“For God has not destined us [emphasis mine] to the terrors of judgment, but to the full attainment of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1st Thessalonians 5:9 NASB).
Note God’s destiny for your life. Salvation.
God’s overarching desire is that you reach that destiny. His itinerary includes stops that encourage your journey. He frowns on stops that deter you. When his sovereign plan and your earthly plan collide, a decision must be made. Who’s in charge of this journey?
If God must choose between your earthly satisfaction and your heavenly salvation, which do you hope he chooses?
Me too.
In the Eye of the Storm
[1]
Today's Scripture in Context
[1]Lucado, Max; Gibbs, Terri A.: Grace for the Moment: Inspirational Thoughts for Each Day of the Year. Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman, 2000, S. 144
Colossians 4:2
Can you imagine the outcome if a parent honored each request of each child during a trip? We’d inch our bloated bellies from one ice-cream store to the next.…
Can you imagine the chaos if God indulged each of ours? …
“For God has not destined us [emphasis mine] to the terrors of judgment, but to the full attainment of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1st Thessalonians 5:9 NASB).
Note God’s destiny for your life. Salvation.
God’s overarching desire is that you reach that destiny. His itinerary includes stops that encourage your journey. He frowns on stops that deter you. When his sovereign plan and your earthly plan collide, a decision must be made. Who’s in charge of this journey?
If God must choose between your earthly satisfaction and your heavenly salvation, which do you hope he chooses?
Me too.
In the Eye of the Storm
[1]
Today's Scripture in Context
[1]Lucado, Max; Gibbs, Terri A.: Grace for the Moment: Inspirational Thoughts for Each Day of the Year. Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman, 2000, S. 144
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
WE LOOK TO GOD
“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter says, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
Matthew 14:28 niv
Peter is not testing Jesus; he is pleading with Jesus. Stepping onto a stormy sea is not a move of logic; it is a move of desperation. Peter grabs the edge of the boat. Throws out a leg … follows with the other. Several steps are taken. It’s as if an invisible ridge of rocks runs beneath his feet. At the end of the ridge is the glowing face of a never-say-die friend.
We do the same, don’t we? We come to Christ in an hour of deep need. We abandon the boat of good works. We realize … that human strength won’t save us. So we look to God in desperation. We realize … that all the good works in the world are puny when laid before the Perfect One.
In the Eye of the Storm
[1]
Today's Scripture in Context
[1]Lucado, Max; Gibbs, Terri A.: Grace for the Moment: Inspirational Thoughts for Each Day of the Year. Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman, 2000, S. 143
Matthew 14:28 niv
Peter is not testing Jesus; he is pleading with Jesus. Stepping onto a stormy sea is not a move of logic; it is a move of desperation. Peter grabs the edge of the boat. Throws out a leg … follows with the other. Several steps are taken. It’s as if an invisible ridge of rocks runs beneath his feet. At the end of the ridge is the glowing face of a never-say-die friend.
We do the same, don’t we? We come to Christ in an hour of deep need. We abandon the boat of good works. We realize … that human strength won’t save us. So we look to God in desperation. We realize … that all the good works in the world are puny when laid before the Perfect One.
In the Eye of the Storm
[1]
Today's Scripture in Context
[1]Lucado, Max; Gibbs, Terri A.: Grace for the Moment: Inspirational Thoughts for Each Day of the Year. Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman, 2000, S. 143
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
PRAYERS ARE PRECIOUS JEWELS
The Lord sees the good people and listens to their prayers.
1 Peter 3:12
You and I live in a loud world. To get someone’s attention is no easy task. He must be willing to set everything aside to listen: turn down the radio, turn away from the monitor, turn the corner of the page and set down the book. When someone is willing to silence everything else so he can hear us clearly, it is a privilege. A rare privilege, indeed.
[Your] prayers are honored [in heaven] as precious jewels. Purified and empowered, the words rise in a delightful fragrance to our Lord.… Your words do not stop until they reach the very throne of God.…
Your prayer on earth activates God’s power in heaven, and “God’s will is done on earth as it is in heaven.” …
Your prayers move God to change the world. You may not understand the mystery of prayer. You don’t need to. But this much is clear: Actions in heaven begin when someone prays on earth.
The Great House of God
[1]
Today's Scripture in Context
[1]Lucado, Max; Gibbs, Terri A.: Grace for the Moment: Inspirational Thoughts for Each Day of the Year. Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman, 2000, S. 142
1 Peter 3:12
You and I live in a loud world. To get someone’s attention is no easy task. He must be willing to set everything aside to listen: turn down the radio, turn away from the monitor, turn the corner of the page and set down the book. When someone is willing to silence everything else so he can hear us clearly, it is a privilege. A rare privilege, indeed.
[Your] prayers are honored [in heaven] as precious jewels. Purified and empowered, the words rise in a delightful fragrance to our Lord.… Your words do not stop until they reach the very throne of God.…
Your prayer on earth activates God’s power in heaven, and “God’s will is done on earth as it is in heaven.” …
Your prayers move God to change the world. You may not understand the mystery of prayer. You don’t need to. But this much is clear: Actions in heaven begin when someone prays on earth.
The Great House of God
[1]
Today's Scripture in Context
[1]Lucado, Max; Gibbs, Terri A.: Grace for the Moment: Inspirational Thoughts for Each Day of the Year. Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman, 2000, S. 142
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
